Helicopter flying machine



Feb. 26 1.924. 1,484,632

E. N. FALES HELICOPTER FLYING MACHINE Filed May' 11 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 26 1924. 11,484,632

E. N. FALES HELICOPTER 'FLYING'MAQHINE m aa.

Filed May 11. 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 2%, 1924. Il4l841,632

E. N. FA LES HELI COPTER FLYING MACHINE Filed May 11. 1921 3 sheets-Sheet 5 amen a. ream,

Manner eier curios.

OE DAYTON, OHM).

ICOPTER FLYING MACHINE- Application filed May 11,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Emsm N. FALES, a citizen of the United States, residing at 7 Ferguson Ave, Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful. Improve- 'ments in Helicopter Flying Machines, of

which the followin' is a specification.

This invention 're ates to helicopter flying machines, the object in view being to pro-. vide a machine employing oppositely extending wings or supporting surfaces, having their leading edges disposed reversely .to each other; the wing structure having suspended centrally beneath the same-a car having directional and stabilizing means.

The invention relates particularly to the means for driving the wlngs around a central axis. from which the 'car is pivotally suspended. It also contemplates a releasable connection between the car and the wing structure, together with a parachute arrangement whereby, in case of necessity, the car may be released from the wing struc- 25 ture and one or more parachutes, normally all housed within the car, released so that a safe descent to the ground may be effected.

A further object of the invention is to provide in connection with the car, a landlng chassis embodying hinged supporting legs which are capable of adjustment and which carry the controlling directional and stabilizing members, all of which are under the control of the operator seated in the car.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement herein fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a helicopter flying machine, embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in plan and .partly in section, showing modified wing propelling means; Y

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the machine on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4c is a fragmentary, vertical section on an enlar ed scale, showing the releasable connection tween the car and wing structure;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical side elevation illustrating the parachute arrangement for 1921. serial No. Marco.

tic views in plan and side elevation showing means to direct the car.

The improved helicopter flying machine embodies in the drawings, apair of oppositely extending wings or supporting surfaces 10, having their leading edges 11 facmg in opposite directions. are rigid y connected at the center of the machine and are preferably arranged at any suitable dihedral angle to each other.

Supported separately of the wing structure, I have shown a fuel tank 12, an air compressor 13, and a combustion chamber 14. Pipes or conduits 15 lead from the air compressor or combustion chamber toward the wing tips and, under the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, said pipes lead to the hubs of propellers 16 which are shown as mounted behind the trailing edges 17 of the wings 10. The expanding gases pass from the hub of the propeller outwardly thru the passages 18 to the propeller tips and thence escape through jet nozzles 19 which discharge in a direction contrary to the normal direction of rotation of the propeller blades, the. propellers being thus driven by reaction.

By means of the arrangement above described, the wings are driven in a circular path around the central axis of the machine where there is a normally vertical shaft 20 extending downwardly from the wing structure and having a car or fuselage 21 suspended thereon. Instead of the propelling means above described, the gas under pressure may be delivered from the compressor 13 through passages 22 extending longitudinally of the propeller blades into jet nozzles 23, extending rearwardly from the propeller blades and ignited by spark plugs 24 in the nozzles, as shown in Figure 2.

, For driving the machine in an approximately horizontal path, the car 21 may carry The wings 10 an engine which drives a propeller 25 at one end of the car. The shaft 20 has at the lower end thereof, a spider 26 having downwardly extending fingers 27 formed with lagceh receiving openings 28. The fingers 27 ,xtend downwardly through openings 29 in the main frame members 30 of the car 21,

as best illustratedin Fig. 4. The openings 28 are adapted to receive a corresponding number of" sliding latches 31 all connected by flexible means 32 to a centrally arranged, drum 33 on a shaft 34 journaled in a bearing bracket 35 within the car 21. The shaft 34 may be turned by means of a crank36, the shaft of which has a worm 37, meshing with a worm-gear 38 on the shaft 34. By the means just described, the operator. in the car may simultaneously draw inwardly all the latches 31 and thereby release car 21 from the wing structure above.

In order to enable the car 21 to descend slowly and make a safe landing, one or more parachutes are arranged in a parachute compartment 39 within the car. In Figures '5 and 6 I have illustrated the use of a-plurality of parachutes, one of which is connected by an anchor 'rope 40 to said car, and another of which is connected by an anchor rope 41 to the car. As shown, the anchor rope 40 passes upwardly thru the vent-hole 42 of the other parachute 43. As illustrated in Fig. 6, this one parachute is adapted to be released before the other or others, the succeeding parachute pack 44 being mounted upon the primary parachute anchor rope 40. Connected to the pack 44 is a pilot parachute 45 which the aviator throws from the compartment 39; and when said pilot parachute 45 opens, it efi'ects an opening of the parachute in pack 44, the last named parachute then assuming the position and relation to the parachute just released, as shown in Fig. 5. As many parachutes may be used as are found necessary to support the car and enable a safe landing to be effected.

The chassis, which supports the car 20, comprises a plurality of supporting legs which are pivotally connected to the car at 47 and carry wheels 48 at their downward ends. The legs 46 are adapted to be moved laterally and upwardly .from the supporting position shown in Figs. 7 and 8 to a horizontal stabilizing or controlling position. A normally horizontal vane or ele vator 49 is pivotally mounted under the fuselage at 50 and provided with horns 51 to which are attached flexible controls 52 leading into the car.

The legs referred to also have mounted thereon a normally horizontal vane 53, connected in like manner by controls with a lever or the like in the car 20. Stops 57 are used to hold the legs 46 in a horizontal position, in which position the stabilizing vanes 53 are used for maintaining lateral balance of the machine. The vane 53 operates in a manner similar to the ailerons of an airplane. The vane 49 operates similarly to the usual elevator, and the vanes 53 are intended to be used for directional purposes similar to the vertical rudder of an airplane.

The machine, as a whole, operates on the principle of two airplanes flying around a common center. The body is suspended below the rotating wing structure above, rotation of the wings being caused by the reaction propelling means above referred to. The wings may be of monoplane or biplane construction and any desired number of propelling elements may be employed in connection therewith. The propellin elements operate in opposite directions and form a driving couple whose reaction is against the atmospheric air itself. The body or car is prevented from rotatin by means of the vanes herein shown and described which oppose rotation by their own resistance. Horizontal translation may be produced by the propelling means on the body or car.

The car will provide space for operator, passengers, equipment, machinery, etc.

By shifting the center of gravity of the car, the direction of movement of the flying machine may be controlled.

For maneuvering on the ground, the landing wheels'may be provided with shockabsorbers of any kind.

I claim I I 1. In a helicopter flying machine, wings extending in opposite direction from the center of the machine and having their leading edges disposed reversely to each other, propellin means for said wings, a car suspended from the center .of the machine and having a swiveled connection with the superposed wing structure, means for disconnecting the car from the wing structure while in flight, and-a releasable parachute attached to and normallyhoused within the car.

2. In a helicopter flying machine, win s extending in opposite direction from t e center of the machine and having their leading edges disposed reversel to each other, propelling means for sai .wings, a

car suspended from the center of the. ma-

chine and having a swiveled connection with the superposed wing structure, means for disconnecting the car from the wing structure while in flight, and a releasable means for simultaneously operating said latches.

3. In ahelicopter flying machine, wings extending in opposite direction from the os-45m @3 mmof. the him and having their parachutes normally housed within the car Heading edges disposed mversel ,to each and strum I g upon a common guido rope 10 other, prope means for sai wings, a, which forms the anchor rope of one of the car suspended om the center of the maparachutes.

5 chime and ving a. swiveled connection In testimony whereof I have afiixed my with the superposed wing structure, means sighsture. Y

fondiscomiectmg the car from the win cturo we in flight, and a, plurality 0% ELKSHA N, WALES. 

